A Landing on the Sun A Novel

From the bestselling author ofHeadlongandSpies, "an unconditional triumph" (The Washington Post Book World) For fifteen years, ever since the taciturn civil servant Summerchild fell to his death from a window in the Admiralty, there have been rumors. So Brian Jessel, a young member of the Cabinet Office, is diverted from his routine work and asked to prepare an internal report. Slowly, from the archives in the Cabinet Office Registry, Jessel begins to reconstruct Summerchild's last months. It begins to emerge that, at a time when America had just put men on the moon, the British were involved in an even bolder project, and that Summerchild was investigating a phenomenon as common as sunlight, but as powerful and dangerous as any of the forces that modern science has known. The secret world into which Brian Jessel stumbles turns out to be even more extraordinary than his department had feared. Michael Fraynis the author of eleven novels, including the bestsellingHeadlongandSpies. He has also written thirteen plays, among themNoises OffandCopenhagen, which won three Tony Awards in 1999. He lives in London. For fifteen years, ever since the taciturn civil servant Summerchild fell to his death from a window in the Admiralty, there have been rumors. So Brian Jessel, a young member of the Cabinet Office, is diverted from his routine work and asked to prepare an internal report. Slowly, from the archives in the Cabinet Office Registry, Jessel begins to reconstruct Summerchild's last months. It begins to emerge that, at a time when America had just put men on the moon, the British were involved in an even bolder project, and that Summerchild was investigating a phenomenon as common as sunlight, but as powerful and dangerous as any of the forces that modern science has known. The secret world into which Brian Jessel stumbles turns out to be even more extraordinary than his department had feared. "An unconditional triumph."The Washington Post Book World "An elegance and cunning reminiscent of Henry James, and Mr. Frayn's most artful creation so far."The New York Times Book Review "Whimsically charming to the end, but grave and sad as well."Kirkus Reviews "Comedy creeps up onA Landing on the Sunlike bindweed, transforming what starts out as a thriller into a small masterpiece of the absurd."Financial Times

Michael Frayn is the author of eleven novels, including the bestselling Headlong and Spies. He has also written thirteen plays, among them Noises Off and Copenhagen, which won three Tony Awards in l999. He lives in London.

"An elegance and cunning reminiscent of Henry James, and Mr. Frayn's most artful creation so far." --The New York Times Book Review